(CNN) -- Belgian Tom Boonen has been granted a shock late reprieve to compete in the Tour de France, which begins in Monaco on Saturday.

Booned is being allowed to compete in the Tour de France after successfully appealing against his exclusion.

The former world champion had been barred by Tour organizers following a positive test for cocaine, but was cleared to race in a ruling given by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday.

It was Boonen's second failed test in a year. He also missed the Tour in 2008 because he tested positive for the drug in May last year.

"After the decision announced by the CAS on Friday, Tom Boonen will be at the start of the 2009 Tour de France," organizers said in a statement.

"The Tour's management believes that, considering the great champion that Tom is, he will relish the oportunity that has been given to him and he will have an exemplary attitude during the event," the statement continued.